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Unit of study_

MECO3603: Media, Law and Ethics

2024 unit information

This unit will introduce students to the area of media, law and ethics through discussion of key legal, ethical, and cultural issues relevant to journalism and the professional fields of public communication. Students will be given an introductory survey of the main ethical theories in Western thought to establish a framework within which to examine specific ethical issues that relate to media. They will also be introduced to those aspects of the law that impinge on the work of media professionals.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Arts and Social Sciences

Study level Undergraduate
Academic unit Media and Communications
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
? 
18 credit points at 2000 level in Media and Communications
Corequisites:
? 
None
Prohibitions:
? 
MECO3003
Assumed knowledge:
? 
None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. recognise and identify legal and ethical issues for media practitioners
  • LO2. possess basic legal literacy, sufficiently to know where and when to seek further advice
  • LO3. identify and draw on ethical theories and principles to think through ethical dilemmas for the media
  • LO4. understand concerns, key thinkers and key legal and ethical frameworks for reflective, responsible and professional public communicators
  • LO5. work collaboratively to resolve legal and ethical concerns in specific case studies.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2020
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Remote
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Remote

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.

Important enrolment information

Additional advice

Available to BA/B Advanced Studies (Media and Communications), BA/BLaw students only